AP Calc BC - B grade - what are the chances for Ivy and MIT

[Anonymous]

A 5 in AP Calculus BC test could help!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This. This admissions season someone posted a podcast with transcript where admissions officers reviewed the applications from 3 high schools. One was a TJ student. That student was held to a ridiculous standard by the admissions officers. The student wanted to be an economics major but had not done "original research in economics" (the student had only taken 2 years of math beyond calculus, micro and macro econ and was president of the math team and worked in a STEM internship but the admissions team said it didn't support the major and just wasn't impressive enough). It was insanity. Meanwhile the other students from regular high schools (not in the DMV) had 1/4 of the resume and were reviewed better.

The problem is that the student was geared towards a STEM major; he came across as someone trying to backdoor into MIT as a STEM Major. Look at his background:

1. TJ = STEM
2. Math Team = STEM
3. Adv Math = STEM
4. STEM Internship = STEM

Who knows if the kid is trying to backdoor or honestly wants to study Econ? Looks like a backdoor to me. He maybe more capable student in Econ but the backdoor is not good.

What?
Econ at MIT is a STEM major - it's a mathematical science.

In case you just came out from under a rock for the first time today, schools provide much more math and science opportunities, for many more years, than econ opportunities.

Why the negativity out of the gate? MIT offers 3 degrees in Economics; The actual "Economics" is and always has been considered a Social Science - almost all Social Sciences use data but that doesn't make it STEM.

If you are referring to: Mathematical Economics or Computer Science, Economics, and Data Science then I agree that is STEM.

Op stated only: Economics so I thought that meant "Economics" and in that view the Admissions decision made perfect sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
This. This admissions season someone posted a podcast with transcript where admissions officers reviewed the applications from 3 high schools. One was a TJ student. That student was held to a ridiculous standard by the admissions officers. The student wanted to be an economics major but had not done "original research in economics" (the student had only taken 2 years of math beyond calculus, micro and macro econ and was president of the math team and worked in a STEM internship but the admissions team said it didn't support the major and just wasn't impressive enough). It was insanity. Meanwhile the other students from regular high schools (not in the DMV) had 1/4 of the resume and were reviewed better.

The problem is that the student was geared towards a STEM major; he came across as someone trying to backdoor into MIT as a STEM Major. Look at his background:

1. TJ = STEM
2. Math Team = STEM
3. Adv Math = STEM
4. STEM Internship = STEM

Who knows if the kid is trying to backdoor or honestly wants to study Econ? Looks like a backdoor to me. He maybe more capable student in Econ but the backdoor is not good.

What?
Econ at MIT is a STEM major - it's a mathematical science.

In case you just came out from under a rock for the first time today, schools provide much more math and science opportunities, for many more years, than econ opportunities.

What types of courses should someone take then with an interest in Econ besides math (and Econ courses)? Are there certain EC's that will underscore that interest?

Yes, start a new thread.

Econ and Business can be oversubscribed majors. So be careful.

EC/Activities:
DECA
FBLA
Investment club
MUN focused on econ issues
Start a small business (nothing fancy but being an entrepreneur is key)
Econ or finance internship
National Economics Challenge: https://www.councilforeconed.org/programs/for-students/national-economic-challenge/


Summer programs:

Management & Technology Summer Institute at Wharton at Penn
Wharton Leadership in the Business World Program at Penn
Exploring Entrepreneurship at Fordham University
Babson Summer Study for High School Students
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom at Fordham University
USC Exploring Entrepreneurship Program
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
NYU Summer at Stern
Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they get a 5 on the AP exam, the concerns about the B are less, especially since this is a Bio rather than CS or engineering major.

Not true Everyone (EVERYONE) at TJ gets a 5 on the BC AP. Even kids with Cs. That’s how tough the class is and how far it goes beyond the AP curriculum.

Anecdotal. 2 kids there.

[Anonymous]

More students on average get a 5 on Calc BC than any other score COMBINED.

Getting a 5 on Calc BC is an underwhelming achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More students on average get a 5 on Calc BC than any other score COMBINED.

Getting a 5 on Calc BC is an underwhelming achievement.

It’s a self-selecting group. The high percentage of 5s isn’t because the test is easy, it’s because almost no one takes it unless they are an excellent student already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More students on average get a 5 on Calc BC than any other score COMBINED.

Getting a 5 on Calc BC is an underwhelming achievement.

It’s a self-selecting group. The high percentage of 5s isn’t because the test is easy, it’s because almost no one takes it unless they are an excellent student already.

More than 150,000 students a year take calc bc. It isn't special to get a 5. 75,000 get a 5. For comparison, fewer than 5,000 students get above a 1580 on the SAT.

[Anonymous]

I read that at TJ, a couple a hundred students a year write Calc BC either as freshman or sophomore and score a 5. So even among freshman at TJ, that achievement isn't that notable.

[Anonymous]

A 5 in Calc BC means getting something like 70% ish right on the test. You are basically getting a C; So the top schools make you redo Calc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC had a B second semester and got in ED.

In ED to which school?

[Anonymous]

OP - do not worry - one B+ won't sink any application. However, this is where you may want to strategize an ED application to a college where students from TJ with perfect grades will not be applying. So, not HYPMS, but perhaps a less competitive school where you can demonstrate interest by visiting, etc. Have you visited Rice, Tufts, WashU, Wake Forest? All have very strong Bio and pre-med programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Child in TJ - current Junior and may end with B grade in AP Calc BC. I have heard all grades should be A being Asian to get into Ivy/MIT/Stanford. What are the chances for those schools for a Bio major with a B grade in AP Calc BC and remaining As or A- in Junior year. Overall GPA end of Junior will be close to 4.3; SAT 1570+; Good ECs

Hire a college counselor. They’ll evaluate transcript and ECs. Might be able to pivot to another major, add some summer stuff to support it and overall strengthen chances.

Bio is still tough - especially for Asian females. If the goal is medical field, there are many other major options.

Has the OP come back?
Agree with this.
I’d apply to SLACs - ED1 and ED2:

https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/best-liberal-arts-colleges-for-medical-school

Agree. Apply ED to SLACs where the entire rest of TJ isn't applying.

[Anonymous]

Our kid is also getting a B right now in BC calc as a junior. It's the only B he's had in a rigorous curriculum through high school at a smally NY private. He's not even particularly interested in STEM. His guidance counselor is not concerned it will affect his chances at SLACs and neither are we - one B among a stellar academic record shows he was willing to challenge himself (especially, as others have said, if he gets a 5 on the AP).

[Anonymous]

My kid had all As (including calc BC), 5 on AP exam and a35 ACT. Was deferred then rejected from MIT. Other classmates with similar scores also rejected.

[Anonymous]

Good grief, the world has become a crazy place. I got into an Ivy with a few B+s, among A's, and interesting volunteer work in the area of domestic violence prevention. But it sounds like the world has become a place where unless you are perfect in every way, there's not a spot for you at the top schools. My answer is, be a normal person and have interests, and go elsewhere, but YMMV.